Antibiotic eye drops for dogs are an effective way of treating a number of conditions. Your dog's eyes are very important for its health and quality of life and it is important to get any abnormalities or infections checked out by a vet as soon as possible.
Why a Dog Would Need Eyedrops
Antibiotic eye drops are usually prescribed to treat a variety of infections. The most common of these is called conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the lining membrane of the eye and the surface of the eyeball. If your dog has an eye infection, it will usually be exhibiting the following symptoms:
- Squinting
- Redness in one or both eyes
- Discharge from one or both eyes
Infections are usually characterised by a thick or pus-like discharge. This can be caused by either bacterial or viral infections. Eye infections can be very uncomfortable for your dog and should be treated immediately.
What Eyedrops Do
Antibacterial eye drops are administered topically-in other words, straight onto the eye. They will usually contain either a single ingredient or a combination of ingredients to help fight your dog's eye infection.
Cyclosporine for dogs is a medication used to treat Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (also called ‘dry eye'). This condition occurs when the dog's tear ducts do not produce enough moisture and it can cause infections in the dog's eye. Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive and can help relieve the symptoms of this condition.
Epiphora is another condition that can cause eye infections. This condition is characterized by excessive tearing and will cause tear stains on the fur around the animal's eyes. Antibiotic eye drops can be used to prevent the excessive production of moisture.
Are They Safe to Use?
Antibiotic eye drops are only available by prescription. Depending on your dog's condition, there are other kinds of drops which are available over the counter which might help but it is best to treat actual infections with antibiotics.
Although some vets and pet owners prefer more natural methods of treatment, all antibiotics available through prescription will be safe to use on your dog. Their effectiveness has been tested and, although some antibiotic medications can cause side effects, these will be rare and will go away when your dog is no longer on the medication.
Human eye drops should never be used on dogs as they are dangerous to them. The dosage will be too strong for your dog and it could cause damage to its eye or even to its health.
There are many different conditions that can cause abnormalities in your dog's eyes and antibiotic drops will not be the right medication for all of them. If you are in doubt, consult your vet for more advice.
Although eye infections are a fairly common ailment, they can be distressing to your dog. If they are caught quickly then they can be easily treated with antibiotic eye drops. However, your dog's eyes are very important so it is crucial to see a vet at the first sign of any abnormality.